DANUrB+ was given as an example for capitalization of the TRANS-EDU-NET Project in connection to the developed school program in Bulgaria, named “Sustainable Entrepreneurship along the Danube”. This became evident by the presentation of Mrs. Desislava Mincheva-Yordanova, representative of the project partner National Tourism Cluster “Bulgarian Guide”, who participated at the “Interreg Youth Road Show in Southeast Europe” in Thessaloniki on November 8th 2022.

The event is connected to the European Year of Youth 2022 and the focus was on young people's projects. More than 400 projects on Interreg programs, with Southeastern Europe and the Balkan Area being one of the most active, aimed at responding responsibly to common problems, challenges, and obstacles of young people living in border/peripheral regions, and larger/shrinking areas, such as unemployment, exclusion, or health issues. Interact, together with 4 other programmes in Southeast Mediterranean - INTERREG “Balkan Mediterranean”, IPA CBC “Greece – Republic of North Macedonia”, INTERREG "Greece-Bulgaria”, and ENI CBC Black Sea Basin were the organizers. All through the Youth Road Show, the participants had the possibility to exchange ideas, opinions, and thoughts with programme authorities, promoters, and the final beneficiaries, as projects were illustrating the kind of operations developed in this area focusing on vocational training, employability, and entrepreneurship for young people.

The TRANS-EDU-NET initiative on its behalf was recognized as good practice and the only project, representative from the INTERREG Balkan-Mediterranean Programme. It aims to counteract the increasing rate of youth unemployment, early school leaving, the fewer opportunities to balance work and study and the brain drain of young and skilled people to countries with a more developed economic and labor market that result in endangering the growth perspectives and potential in the area. The mission is to provide opportunities for joint initiatives for vocational education and trainings (online activities, practical initiatives, a simulation business game, transnational educational camps, etc.) of young people aged 16-30 for the needs of the tourism industry.

DANUrB+ Bulgarian school program was revealed in front of the influential audience of the European Commission, European Parliament, management authorities, Joint Secretariat, etc. The school programs are related to one of the main pillars of the DANUrB+ Project – Education. They aim to raise awareness and promote cross-cultural and local heritage values, possibilities, and the potentials of authentic lifestyles and produces, to give prosperity options for future generations.

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Project co-funded by European Union funds (ERDF and IPA).